Application for a study abroad

Students who would like to go abroad through an exchange program at Pforzheim University first undergo an internal application and selection process. Here you can find everything about the application process and the application documents to be submitted as well as the link to the online application process.

Applications are always possible in May and November.
Winter semester: 01 - 30 November of the previous year
Summer semester: 01 - 31 May of the previous year*
For the application deadlines of the Department of Design, please contact the Exchange Office.

Source: Bilkent University, Türkiye Source: Bilkent University, Türkiye

Please apply online at the International Office for study abroad. Please note our study places at our partner universities abroad and apply for study abroad in due time. Selection and nomination is done by the International Office. In case of an independent nomination attempt at the partner university, you will be immediately excluded from the application process.

If you are already in your 6th semester at the time of your application, please submit a study plan by mail, listing the courses you would like to take during the semester abroad (except for IB and IM courses).


Places are allocated depending on the availability of exchange places for the period concerned.

The following selection criteria are generally used as a basis for evaluation:

 

 

Selection Process Example

You can name up to 6 priorities. If your first choice is already occupied, then wecheck if there are still places for your next choice. If it is not available as well, we will check the next choice and so on.

In the following example you can follow our general selction process. For a more comprehensive explanation we only show 3 priorities. However for 6 priorities the process remains the same

For this example the IQS Barcelona has 1 place/semester and University of Utah 2 (NOTE: real number varies)

StudentBachelor pre-exam gradePrio 1Prio 2Prio 3Placement
A1,4IQS BarcelonaSDU DenmarkOrebreo UniversityIQS Barcelona
B2,2IQS BarcelonaUSA UtahIESEG ParisUSA Utah
C2,5USA UtahBSB DijonUniversity of OuluUSA Utah
D2,8IQS BarcelonaUSA UtahTec de MonterreyTec de Monterrey

 

In this example student A will get placed with IQS because they have the highest grade. Because there is only 1 seat for IQS student B will receive his second choice, University of Utah. Student C will get placed with Utah as well since there are 2 places available in the semester. Student D will be given his 3rd priority. That is due to the fact that there are no more places available for his 1st and 2nd priority. 

 

Renewal Selection Process Applications starting from Summer semester 2026

Due to the constantly growing interest and the limited number of places available, the selection process will be slightly adjusted / reintroduced from SS26 applications onwards.

Until the Corona period, students had to prove an average of 2.7 for voluntary semesters abroad. However, we would like to slightly soften this regulation in order to give all students a chance to spend a semester abroad.

From now on, applications will be divided into 2 groups:

  • Group 1: Compulsory semester abroad* or students with a Bachelor's preliminary examination grade of 2.7 and higher
  • Group 2: Students without a compulsory semester abroad and a Bachelor's preliminary examination grade below 2.7

Within these groups, applications are ranked as before. In the selection process, places abroad will be allocated to group 1 first and then to group 2. The same principle will be applied to the subsequent selection.

The application periods do not change.

 

*The compulsory semester abroad must be specified as such in your SPO. 

Application note Master Students (Business School) & Bachelor International Marketing

Please first check with your program director which quotas are available in your program. The creditable ECTS must be recorded in a Learning Agreement (does not yet have to be signed by the university coordinator) and confirmed by the program director. In principle, it is expected that a minimum of 24 ECTS in European countries or a minimum of 22 ECTS in non-European countries are taken for credit.

If you have received a quota slot, please apply regularly at the International Office via the online system. Indicate the partner university and tick the box quota.

Only applicants who have had a prior interview with your program director and have determined the number of ECTS credits they will receive can be accepted.

 

SELECTION PROCESS

via quotas

Selection is based on contingent places and your program director can confirm your place. You will receive an e-mail from your program director with the selection result as well as information on how to proceed (enrollment, funding opportunities, etc.).

Documents for Application

Please apply online, via our online application form. The procedure is described further down in the text. Please note that you can only apply once per semester.

Only complete applications (incl. English B2 certificate, Bachelor Vorpüfungsnote) that we receive before the application deadline can be considered.

Please upload the completed insurance statement and travel safety information with your application. You do not need to have insurance yet. This document is only for you to inform us that you are going to insure yourself.

Proof of Insurance

 

If, at the time of application to the International Office, you still have an outstanding examination from your first or second semester (second or third attempt), it is still possible to apply for a semester abroad. However, you will need a written statement from your program director in which he/she confirms that you may apply for the semester abroad. In addition, the exams must be taken as soon as possible and passed in the semester that has just begun. If in doubt, please contact the International Office for further information.

Please note that without a Bachelor's preliminary examination grade, there is no main selection criteria and therefore all students with a Bachelor's preliminary examination grade are given priority in the selection process.

Master students: Master's students have the possibility to upload their Bachelor's transcript including the final average grade.

From winter semester 25/26, a B2 certificate in English / teaching language of the partner university is sufficient to apply for a semester abroad.

From October 2024, the Language Center of Pforzheim University will no longer offer TOEFL ITP tests, therefore a B2 certificate in English is sufficient for the application for the semester abroad. However, the partner university to which you are assigned may require an official language certificate such as a TOEFL IBT, IELTS, TOEIC, etc. As soon as you have been accepted by a partner university, you must immediately check which language certificates are accepted by the partner university and, if necessary, complete an official language certificate with an external provider. Either check out our Partnerdatenbank or the website of the partneruniversities for Incoming Students. 

Further information on language certificates can be found on the following website.

During the nomination we are often asked by partner universities to provide the passport no. (EU national identity card, NON-EU passport). That is why you have to upload a valid passport. Please note that because of national visa regulations passports usually need to be valid until at least 6 months after the end of your stay abroad. 

 

The 0.5 "Auslandsbonus" is given every semester to particularly committed members of the initiatives and university groups. The application is made centrally via the AStA, contact persons are the executive boards of the respective groups and initiatives. Of primary importance are the time invested and the responsibility assumed as well as the benefit to the student body.

Selection Criteria:

- Active Participation in an official student initiative of HSPF or the student body (StuRa, AStA) for at least 2 semesters

- Active Participation per Semester must be at least 36 hours

- At least half of the time per semester must be committed to the actual benefit for students

- The 2 semesters in question can be chosen freely and do not need to follow consecutively 

 

For inquiries in regard to the “Auslandsbonus” please contact the AStA directly international.asta(at)hs-pforzheim(dot)de

Notes on data protection

Your data will be stored for internal use. An overview of your rights according to DSGVO can be found in our privacy policy.

For the organization of a semester abroad, it is essential to pass on the data, e.g. to the host university or, if applicable, to scholarship providers (DAAD). However, the data will only be stored for the purpose of processing the semester abroad or the scholarship.

By submitting the online form, you agree to the data processing as described.

ulars stimmen Sie der Datenverarbeitung wie beschrieben zu.

Online Application

Important information for Engineering and Management

Please select as a business engineer at Faculty WING - Business Engineering. This will give you access to all partner universities of the Business School as well as the Faculty of Engineering. Please note that if you choose a partner university of the Business School, you can only take courses at the Business School there.

You can check the available exchange programs here.

Since the new system is still under construction, it may happen that a partner university does not appear in the online application but is available on the exchange program list. If this is the case, please let the International Office know.

 

Tips and Hints:

Campus Selection:

If a college has multiple campuses, please indicate which campus you would like to go to in the comment section. Otherwise, you will be assigned to one campus. Please note there is no guarantee for a specific campus. 

Language Requirements:

Please be sure to check that you meet the university's language requirements before applying. Especially in South America and Spain, Spanish proficiency is often a requirement for a semester abroad.

Grade Requirement:

Our university does not require a specific average grade. However, some partner universities expect a certain (C)GPA. Plesae check before application if you pass the criteria. What counts is usually your overall average grade and not just the Bachelor pre-grade. 

Additional Notes:

When distributing places, requests regarding joint semesters abroad with fellow students cannot be considered.

 

Exchange currently suspended:

Auburn University, USA

California State University Chico, USA

Chulalongkorn University, Thailand

EM Strasbourg Business School, France

ITAM, Mexico

Twente University (Business School), Netherlands

University of Michigan Flint, USA

Step 1- Fill in the online application form

Here you will find the online form to apply for a semester abroad. Please fill it out including your priorities.

Please make sure you select correct academic year and semester for your semester abroad.

Attention: If you have been selected for a double degree, please do not apply under the link above! The application is done in a separate online form! (see below)

Step 2 - Register in Mobility Online & upload the required documents

After you have successfully sent the online form, you will receive an e-mail asking you to register in Mobility Online. After you have registered, you will enter your own area, the so-called workflow. Here you have to upload your personal master data as well as the required documents by the respective deadline.

Once you have registered, you can log in to the system at any time to complete your data or view the progress in the workflow.

Login: Mobility Online.

Application for a Double Degree

If you have been selected for a double degree in Europe, please register here.

If you have been selected for a double degree outside Europe, please register here.


Once you have submitted the online form, registration is also required (as described in step 2).

Once registered, you can log back into the system at any time to complete your data or view your progress in the workflow.

Logging in Mobility Online.

Contacts for Stay abroad

For questions regarding the application process at Pforzheim University as well as at the partner universities, please contact:

Annika Klein - Outgoing-Coordinators at the International Office

In addition to all the information on our website, we also offer a colloqium. This always takes place on Tuesdays to Thursdays from 11:00 to 12:30 & Thursdays 14.00-15.00 in room W1.2.13 or by phone at 07231-286876. You do not need to register in advance for this. During lecture-free periods & outside of office hours you can make an appointment by mail in advance. 

Online Team Meetings are available with an appointment as well. 

For course-specific questions, please contact the faculty coordinators:

School of Engineering: Prof. Dr. Moritz Peter/ Henriette Schürger

Business School: Prof. Dr. Thomas Cleff/ Susanne Glas

School of Design:Prof. Dr. Sibylle Klose/ Barbara Dofek